PITTSBURGH – The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team lost to John Carroll University in three but bounced back to sweep Farmingdale State College (N.Y.) on the opening day of the 2013 CMU DoubleTree Tournament at Skibo Gymnasium.

The Spartans (8-7) conclude the weekend on Saturday versus Geneva College (Pa.) at 11:00 a.m. and No. 12 nationally ranked Otterbein University at 1:00 p.m.

Versus John Carroll (9-6), the Spartans fell by scores of 25-17, 25-18 and 25-14. Sophomore middle hitter Haley Kauffman (Hartville, Ohio/Lake) was the top attacker with seven kills, and sophomore Lauren Gurd (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Country Day) paced the offense with 18 assists.

On defense, sophomore libero Katie Best (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) recorded 12 digs.

Versus Farmingdale State (2-14), the Spartans won by scores of 25-15, 25-10 and 25-15.

Junior middle hitter Natalie Southard (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors) hit a whopping .778 with seven kills in only nine attempts. Freshman outside hitter Isabelle Wagner (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake) and junior outside hitter Rachel Miller (Davis, Ill./Keith County Day) added six kills apiece, while freshman setter Tessa Cooperrider (Perrysville, Ohio/Loudonville) directed the offense with a season-best 15 assists.

Wagner was tops in digs with 10, and Gurd finished with eight.

Following tomorrow's matches, the Spartans return home to host cross-town rival Baldwin Wallace University on Tuesday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Horsburgh Gymnasium. That match is the team's final competition prior to the University Athletic Association Round Robin #1 at home on October 5-6.